Southwest website

[stormer]

I am a teacher so we can only travel to Disney during high demand times. I have an account on SW website with my information and credit card info stored. When they release fares (usually for February break) I always get on as soon as they are released. I choose the flights I want - both ways - all my info is stored, but in the time it takes me to punch in the name and date of birth for my DH and two sons I lose the fare. It always tells me that fare is no longer available. When I try again the same flight is then at least $50 more per person. It is a matter of seconds for me to punch in the info. I wish they "held" the fare for you in your cart for a few minutes like when you buy concert or movie tickets. It is so frustrating because we can only travel at busy times. Am I doing something wrong or does this happen to others also? Just curious if anyone has any tips. I have emailed SW more than once telling them I wish they held the fare for you for a minute while you enter the required information, but I just get the generic thank you for comments response.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sounds to me like they don't really want people to book at that price.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

It's probably nothing that you're doing wrong.

I can't see how it would happen with the scenario that you're describing, but some airline websites will charge a higher price if you've previously researched a specific flight. I've seen travel websites suggest to clear your cookies/cache after a search for that very reason.

I would dismiss that as internet gossip, but I was once researching a flight. By the time I was ready to book the flight, the price had gone up. I went back, cleared my cache & cookies & closed the browser. I went back to the airline website and went directly to the flight I wanted. This time the price didn't change when I reached the final screen. -shrugs- That may be of no help here, but it has saved me money in the past when booking a flight.

 

[jhoannam]

I would book yours first so that you at least get one at the better rate.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah go into Incognito Mode (if on Chrome) and retry it after clearing your cookies and cache like aquamarinesteph mentioned.

Also you can look into how many people you look for. There have been times where searching for 1 person or 2 people than when searching for 3 or 5 makes a difference. One time we actually had to buy 3 tickets on one reservation and then buy 2 more tickets on another reservation at a higher price as they only had the lower price for the 3 people.

 

[mom2rtk]

Something else to consider is that they might only be offering a few fares at the price you originally saw. If you are searching for 1 and see a price of $99, then change to 4 when you're ready to book, the price will show higher if they were only offering 3 of the fares for $99. I know more than once I have seen it change with the quantity, but it changes back when I put the lower quantity back in. I then usually split my party and book as many at the lower fare as possible. I keep watch though, as the fares continue to change all the time and sometimes can get even lower.

 

[Minnesota!]

What they said ^^^^

Make sure you are always searching by the number of people that are going. Or, if you see something cheaper, book yours only, then the others at the more expensive price. Some money saved is better than no money saved...

 

[stormer]

Thanks for the tips. Yes, they only offer a certain amount of flights at each price and then it goes up. The frustrating part is the fare is there for four people when I select it, but by the time I complete my purchase it is gone because someone else completed their order before me. It is just frustrating. to be able to select it, but not get it in the end.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the tips. Yes, they only offer a certain amount of flights at each price and then it goes up. The frustrating part is the fare is there for four people when I select it, but by the time I complete my purchase it is gone because someone else completed their order before me. It is just frustrating. to be able to select it, but not get it in the end.

Part of the problelm might be that since you're looking on release day, so are a bunch of other people. I never lose a fare as I'm checking out because we never plan far enough out to book when they are released!

Honestly though, if they're going that fast, maybe it's a bit of a come-on from SW trying to get people excited about release day. Sort of like the doorbuster sales on Black Friday.

 

[han22735]

We always book day of release first thing and have never had an issue losing it during check out. Seems strange to me.

 

[cmarsh31]

Thanks for the tips. Yes, they only offer a certain amount of flights at each price and then it goes up. The frustrating part is the fare is there for four people when I select it, but by the time I complete my purchase it is gone because someone else completed their order before me. It is just frustrating. to be able to select it, but not get it in the end.

I had the exact same thing happen last year while attempting to book flights for President's week in Feb. Even splitting up tickets into 2 & 2, I ended up with the total being $100 each way more for each flight. It was maddening.

 

[stormer]

We always book day of release first thing and have never had an issue losing it during check out. Seems strange to me.

Do you book for high demand times? Just curious. I am a teacher so we are always booking flights for extremely busy days, which is what leads to the problem.

 

[kenly777]

What time do the flights go live? Thanks I forget

 

[katallo]

I usually see flights around 6:30 est. I just hope the website cooperates and fares are decent. Lately opening day from BWI has been somewhat of a joke...we get better pricing 3 to 4 months out. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[JenluvsDisney]

My husband is also in education and I've been through the exact same scenario the OP describes when we're booking our Spring Break trips. I so often wish that Southwest had a feature like when you're booking tickets to the theater or to a concert where your ticket selection is "held" for a certain amount of time (10-15 minutes, say) to allow you to input all the required information and complete your purchase. I also wish Southwest had a feature like on My Disney Experience where you can input the information of all your traveling companions into your account. It would make checkout so much faster if I could just select from a pre-made list of travel buddies instead of having to input each person's full name and birth date, which would also increase my chances of getting that opening fare.

In short, I feel your pain OP!!

 

[Tara619]

The SW flights released today from CLE to FLL 3/23-3/31 are insane! This is our normal vacation week and this year everything is double! I need to find another option even though my 55k SW points are usually enough for the 3 of us.

 

[cmarsh31]

The SW flights released today from CLE to FLL 3/23-3/31 are insane! This is our normal vacation week and this year everything is double! I need to find another option even though my 55k SW points are usually enough for the 3 of us.

Spring break & Easter weekend is tough! Our spring break is usually the 2nd or 3rd week of April, but this year it coincides with Easter. It has never been this early before (my birthday is 3/31 & I'm a teacher, I know I've only had my bday off for Easter, never spring break!)

 

[ettinkerbell]

Just purchased tickets r.t. for 4 (2 grandkids) BDL to MCO 3/25-30 - and they are more than double last year's. Really had to juggle 2 rapid reward accounts to cover purchase. Used to love SW - now, not so much!!

 

[Tara619]

Spring break & Easter weekend is tough! Our spring break is usually the 2nd or 3rd week of April, but this year it coincides with Easter. It has never been this early before (my birthday is 3/31 & I'm a teacher, I know I've only had my bday off for Easter, never spring break!)

I ended up finding a very reasonable option flying from Pittsburgh (90 min drive for us) to FLL on 3/23. For the way home 3/31, I booked West Palm Beach to PIT. I was able to use my SW points for all 3 of us there and 2 of us on the way home (about 10,100 points each). The single ticket for my husband back to PIT was only $174. Phew! I feel better now that it's booked.

My DH is a principal so I know how it is with school breaks and vacation.

 

[stormer]

My husband is also in education and I've been through the exact same scenario the OP describes when we're booking our Spring Break trips. I so often wish that Southwest had a feature like when you're booking tickets to the theater or to a concert where your ticket selection is "held" for a certain amount of time (10-15 minutes, say) to allow you to input all the required information and complete your purchase. I also wish Southwest had a feature like on My Disney Experience where you can input the information of all your traveling companions into your account. It would make checkout so much faster if I could just select from a pre-made list of travel buddies instead of having to input each person's full name and birth date, which would also increase my chances of getting that opening fare.

In short, I feel your pain OP!!

So frustrating. I have emailed them, but I get the usually generic response. I wish I knew the name of someone important there to contact!